Bendable nozzle for vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a bendable nozzle improved in construction in such a manner that the nozzle body is folded when cleaning out an angled corner area, whereby a convenience in use is enhanced and a wide area is easily cleaned out. The bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle body which is folded and comes into close contact with a wall when it contacts with an angled corner area of the wall. The bendable nozzle includes upper and lower cases provided with a plurality of suction flow passages within the interior thereof. Auxiliary nozzles are hinged to the opposite sides of the upper and lower cases. A corner nozzle moves forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to co-pending Korean Patent Application No. 2003-72873, filed on Oct. 20, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to the copending application entitled “Bendable Extension Pipe Having Joint For Vacuum Cleaner”, (Korean Application 10-2003-72874, filed Oct. 20, 2003) which disclosure is commonly owned by the same assignee as the present application and is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and in particular, to a bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner in which the body of the bendable nozzle is capable of being folded, thereby allowing convenient cleaning of a corner area where two walls meet one another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bendable nozzle according to a prior art, which is disclosed in Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-0005545 published on Jan. 23, 2003.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the construction of the bendable nozzle of the prior art, and FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the rotated state of the left and right bodies when an angled corner area is cleaned. The bendable nozzle includes a central body 1 connected to a suction tube of a vacuum cleaner (not shown), left and right bodies 2, 2′ provided at opposite sides of the central body 1, respectively, and a pair of springs 3 for providing a restoring force for returning the left and right bodies 2, 2′ to their original positions after the left and right bodies 2, 2′ are rotated.

The central body 1 is provided with a suction port 11 for suctioning dust or the like, and “T” shaped guide grooves (not shown) are formed on opposite sides of the central body 1 for guiding the rotation of the left and right bodies 2, 2′ as well as for fixing the left and right bodies 2, 2′ to the central body. On a top of the central body 1, there are formed spring guide holes (not shown) for allowing one end of the springs 3 connected to the left and right bodies 2, 2′ to rotate.

The left and right bodies 2, 2′ have projection guides formed on lateral sides of the left and right bodies, respectively, to engage with the guide grooves, spring connection grooves 24, 24′ formed on top sides of the left and right bodies, respectively, so that the springs 3 are inserted into the spring connection grooves 24, 24′, respectively, and suction grooves 21, 21′ formed at the centers of bottom sides of the left and right bodies, respectively, to guide dust into the suction port 11 in the central body 1. In addition, the lower ends of the projection guides 22, 22′ are formed with shield screens 23, 23′ in order to prevent a suction force from being lost at the connection parts with the central body 1.

A bottom side of the central body 1 is formed with first to third projections 14, 14′, 14″, wherein each of the second and third projections 14′, 14″ is formed to include a lateral wall parallel to one of the suction grooves 21, 21′ as shown in FIG. 2. The first projection 14 is formed at the central lower end between the second projection 14′ and third projection 14″. Projected pieces 15, 15′ are formed on the first and second projections 14, 14,′ so that the shield screen 23 formed on the right body 2′ is in contact with the projected pieces 15, 15′ and the shield screen 23′ on the left body 2 is in contact with the first and third projection 14, 14″, whereby the rotational radii of the shield screens 23, 23′ are different from each other.

Shield screen guides 23″ are formed on top sides of the shield screens 23, 23′, and, shield screen guide grooves 17, 17″ engaged with the shield screen guides 23″ are formed on the bottom side of the central body 1 to have different diameters, whereby the shield screens 23, 23′ can be rotated smoothly.

The springs 3 are formed from two torsion springs, each fixed to the central body 1 at one end thereof and inserted to one of the spring connection grooves 24, 24′ at the other end, a result of which the springs 3 will provide a restoring force when the left and right bodies 2, 2′ are rotated due to a furniture part or a wall.

As described above, the prior art constructs the central body 1 and left and right bodies 2, 2′ in such a manner to make it easy and convenient to clean out an angled corner area merely based on the rotation of the left and right bodies 2, 2′. However, in the prior art, there are several problems in that there is difficulty in using the suction tube. It is difficult to conveniently clean a wide area because it is impossible to extend the left and right bodies 2, 2, ′ and, the guide hole may be blocked by foreign matters such as dust blown into the suction port 11. The action of the springs 3 may be interfered with by foreign matters if the cleaning operation is performed for a long period because the spring guide holes 13 and the springs 3 are positioned adjacent to the suction port 11 of the central body 1.

Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art.

In order to achieve an object of the present invention, a bendable nozzle is provided for a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle body which is folded and comes into close contact with a wall when it contacts with an angled corner area of the wall. The bendable nozzle includes upper and lower cases provided with a plurality of suction flow passages within the interior thereof, auxiliary nozzles hinged to the opposite sides of the upper and lower cases, and a corner nozzle moving forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the suction flow passages include a first duct connected to the auxiliary nozzles, a second duct connected to the corner nozzle, and a cavity where the first and second ducts meet one another. The plurality of suction flow passages may be defined by partition walls in such a manner as to meet one another at the cavity, and the first and second ducts and the cavity are sealed by an integrally formed sealing cover.

The bendable nozzle may include a front suction duct member moving together with the corner nozzle in cooperation with the forward and backward movement of the corner nozzle while front suction is guided in the second duct. The front suction duct member may include a locking projection formed at one end thereof and fitted into a locking slot provided in the corner nozzle, whereby the front suction duct moves along with the corner nozzle in cooperation with the forward and backward movement of the corner nozzle.

Each auxiliary nozzle includes an auxiliary nozzle base pivotably installed in the lower nozzle case, an auxiliary nozzle body connected to the auxiliary nozzle base in such a manner as to be longitudinally extendible, and an auxiliary nozzle cover connected to the auxiliary nozzle base and preventing the auxiliary nozzle body from longitudinally breaking away.

Each auxiliary nozzle may further include a locking projection projectedly formed at one end of the auxiliary nozzle body, and a plurality of engaging indentations provided on an inner periphery of the auxiliary nozzle cover. Each engaging indentation has a constant width and depth corresponding to the locking projection, whereby the auxiliary nozzle body is extended and retracted step by step per the width of each engaging indentation when it is longitudinally extended and retracted. The auxiliary nozzles may be preferably provided with elastic members at the hinge joints thereof, respectively, which elastic members elastically returning the auxiliary nozzles to their original positions. The auxiliary nozzles may communicate with the suction flow passages when they are aligned in a line. The suction flow passages may be cut off from the suction flow passages when pivoted.

The corner nozzle may include a corner nozzle body with an angled end, a suction port formed on the bottom of the corner nozzle body, and a guide slot to which the auxiliary nozzles are connected. The auxiliary nozzles include link members each provided with a guide projection seated in the guide slot whereby the link members are positioned adjacent to the hinge axles, respectively, thus the corner nozzle may be moved forward and backward as the auxiliary nozzles are pivoted. The guide slot is formed to receive both of the guide projections of the auxiliary nozzles and to include the circular constant corresponding to the pivot trace of the guide projections such that the corner nozzle will project when the angle included between the auxiliary nozzles becomes an acute angle as the auxiliary nozzles are pivoted.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a top plan view showing a bendable nozzle according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a drawing of schematic view showing the rotated state of left and right bodies of the bendable nozzle according to the prior art when cleaning out an angled corner area;

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exploded perspective view of a bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a bottom perspective view showing the connective relationship between a corner nozzle and a front suction duct according to the present invention in an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a drawing of a partially cut-away enlarged view of a main part showing the interior of an auxiliary nozzle of the bendable nozzle according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a partially cut-away perspective view showing the interior of the auxiliary nozzle shown in FIG. 5 when it is in the extended state;

FIG. 7 is a drawing of a perspective view showing the bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention in the state in which a top nozzle cover is removed;

FIG. 8 is a drawing of a perspective view showing the bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention in the state in which the top nozzle cover is removed and the auxiliary nozzle is folded;

FIG. 9 is a drawing of a perspective view showing the bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention in the state in which a lower nozzle case is removed; and

FIG. 10 is a drawing that shows a state in which the bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention cleans out a recessed wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinbelow, the construction of a bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the inventive bendable nozzle 100 includes first and second ducts 111, 112, a lower nozzle case 110 with a cavity 113, a sealing cover 120 located over the first and second ducts 111, 112 and the cavity 113 to seal them, and an upper nozzle case 130. The upper and lower nozzle cases 110, 130 form a nozzle body, and the nozzle body is provided with a corner nozzle 200 installed in such a manner to move forward and backward in a traveling direction of the bendable nozzle 100. The left and right ends of the nozzle body are provided with hinge receiving parts 115 in the lower nozzle case 110. Auxiliary nozzles 300 are extendible in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle body and are hinged to the hinge receiving parts 115.

The lower nozzle case 110 forms the lower part of the body of the inventive bendable nozzle 100, and a plurality of suction flow passages are provided within the lower nozzle case 110. The respective suction flow passages include a first duct 111 connected to the auxiliary nozzles 300 and a second duct 112 connected to the corner nozzle 200 in which the first and second ducts 111, 112 meet one another at the cavity 113. Partition walls define the first and second ducts 111, 112 in such a manner that the first and second ducts meet at the cavity 113, and the cavity 113 collects soil-entrained air suctioned from the corner nozzle 200 and the auxiliary nozzles 300 and transfers them to a connection tube 114 which then guides the movement of the soil-entrained air to a dust collection chamber provided in the body of the vacuum cleaner through an assembly of an extension tube and a flexible hose, which is not shown. The connection tube 114 is installed to the axis of the nozzle body. The connection tube 114 is provided with a joint 114 a formed in a sphere shape, and a guide ring 114 b is projectedly formed on the circumferential surface of the joint 114 a in which the guide ring 114 is arranged so that it rotates along a guide groove 110 a provided between the lower nozzle case 110 and the sealing cover 120, which will be described later. Accordingly, a user can freely pivot the connection tube 114 about the axis of the nozzle body and the joint 114 a carried by the guide ring 114 b pivot three-dimensionally.

The sealing cover 120 is installed over the first and second ducts 111, 112 and the cavity 113 to seal them wherein it is preferred to form the sealing cover 120 in an one-piece member formed with sections corresponding to the first and second ducts 111, 112 and the cavity 113. Preferably, a first duct cover 121 corresponding to the first duct 111, a second duct cover 122 corresponding to the second duct 112, and a cavity cover 123 for sealing the cavity 113 are formed in the sealing cover 120 as an integrated form.

The corner nozzle 200 includes a corner nozzle body 210, and a guide slot 220 for connecting the corner nozzle 200 with the auxiliary nozzles 300. The corner nozzle body 210 includes a front end in an angled shape as shown in FIG. 4, and further includes a head part 201 with a suction port 202 opened at the bottom thereof and a locking slot 203 for connecting a front suction duct member 230. The front suction duct member 230 will be described later. The head part 201 forms the extreme end of the corner nozzle body 210 wherein the end of the head part 201 that is oriented to the traveling direction of the inventive bendable nozzle 100, forms a vertical inside angle for cleaning out an angled corner area. A bottom of the head part 201 is formed as an opened suction port 202 to serve to suction soil-entrained air into a dust chamber provided within the cleaner body while facing a surface to be cleaned.

The guide slot 220 simultaneously receives both guide projections 312 a formed on the respective auxiliary nozzles 300 and the guide slot includes the circular constant corresponding to the pivot trace of the guide projections 312 a such that the corner nozzle 200 will be projected when the included angle between the auxiliary nozzles 300 is an acute angle as the auxiliary nozzles 300 are pivoted.

The front suction duct member 230 is a pipe shaped member and moves in cooperation with the forward and backward movements of the corner nozzle 200 while it is guided in the second duct 112. A locking projection 231 is formed in one end of the front suction duct member 230 and is fitted into the locking slot 230, whereby the front suction duct member 230 can be moved in cooperation with the forward and backward movements of the corner nozzle 200. By means of the front suction duct member 230, the soil-entrained air suctioned from the suction port 202 can be moved into the cavity 113 through the front suction duct member 230 and the second duct 112.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each auxiliary nozzle 300 may include an auxiliary nozzle base 310 pivotably installed in the lower nozzle case 110, an auxiliary nozzle body 320 connected to the auxiliary nozzle base 310 in such a manner to longitudinally extend, and an auxiliary nozzle cover 330 connected to the auxiliary nozzle base 310, wherein the auxiliary nozzle cover 330 prevents the auxiliary nozzle body 320 from longitudinally breaking away. The auxiliary nozzle base 310 includes a link member 312 with a hinge axle 311 hinged to the lower nozzle case 110 and a guide projection 312 a seated in the guide slot 220 formed in the corner nozzle 200, and the link member 312 is positioned adjacent to the hinge axle 311, thereby allowing the corner nozzle 200 to move forward and backward as the auxiliary nozzles 300 pivot.

Each auxiliary nozzle body 320 is longitudinally extendible from its initial connected position. It is preferable that the auxiliary nozzle body 320 include a locking projection 321 formed to project on one end of the auxiliary nozzle body 320, and a plurality of engaging indentations 331 formed on the inner periphery of the auxiliary nozzle cover 330 with a constant width and depth, whereby the auxiliary nozzle body 320 is extended or retracted in the longitudinal direction by the width of each engaging indentation 331 when it is extended or retracted. In addition, each auxiliary nozzle 300 is preferably provided with an elastic body 116 at the joint between the hinge axle 311 and the lower nozzle case 110 in order to elastically return the auxiliary nozzle 300 to its original position. Preferably, the elastic member 116 is formed from a torsion spring.

The auxiliary nozzles 300 are in communication with the first duct 111 when they are aligned in a line with one another as shown in FIG. 7, and the auxiliary nozzles 300 are cut-off from the first duct 111 when they are pivoted, whereby suction is provided only through the corner nozzle 200.

Hereinbelow, description will be made for the operation of the bendable nozzle 100 for a vacuum cleaner with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As described above, the bendable nozzle 100 is provided with a corner nozzle 200 which is capable of cleaning out an angled corner area in the front side of the nozzle body which consists of upper and lower cases 110, 130, and the corner nozzle 200 is adapted to move forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of auxiliary nozzles 300 hinged to the opposite sides of the nozzle body. As a result, if the auxiliary nozzles 300 pivot as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8, the guide projections 312 a (see FIG. 3) provided in the link members 312 pivot along a guide slot 220 and push the corner nozzle 200 so that the corner nozzle 200 can move forward. Thus, it is possible to make all of the corner nozzle 200 come into close contact with a wall with an angled corner area as shown in FIG. 10 as the corner nozzle 200 is forwardly projected as shown in the drawing.

It is possible for a user to clean out a corner area merely by pushing the inventive bendable nozzle 100 without needing to substitute a suction tool for an auxiliary nozzle such as a gap nozzle in order to clean out a corner area as in the past. Therefore, a convenience in use is enhanced.

Because the auxiliary nozzles 300 are installed between hinge axles 311 and a lower nozzle case 110 via elastic members, respectively, the elastic members apply an elastic compressive force to the auxiliary nozzles 300 to align the auxiliary nozzles 300 in a line. Therefore, even if the auxiliary nozzles 300 are pivoted by contact with a wall or an obstacle, they will automatically return to their original positions if they are released from the contact. The auxiliary nozzles 300 are longitudinally extendible and retractable. If it is required for a user to clean a wider area, the user pulls the auxiliary nozzle bodies 320 in the longitudinal directions thereof. Heretofore, the auxiliary bodies 320 are broken away from the auxiliary nozzle base 310 and longitudinally extend step-by-step per the width of one engaging indentation 331. As a result, the area suctioned by the auxiliary bodies is increased, thereby reducing the time required for cleaning.

As described above, according to the inventive bendable vacuum cleaner, it is possible to more conveniently perform a cleaning operation because the nozzle body is bendable. Furthermore, it is also possible to enhance suction efficiency because the corner nozzle comes into close contact with an angled corner area as it is projected forwardly in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles. In addition, because it is possible to extend the lengths of the auxiliary nozzles in order to more conveniently clean a wide area, the suction area of the nozzle is wide as compared to a conventional nozzle, whereby it is possible to reduce the time required for cleaning.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. It will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, it shall be considered that such modifications, changes and equivalents thereof are all included within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle body, which is folded and comes into close contact with a wall when it contacts with an angled corner area of the wall, wherein the bendable nozzle comprises: upper and lower cases provided with a plurality of suction flow passages within the interior thereof; auxiliary nozzles hinged to the opposite sides of the upper and lower cases; and a corner nozzle moving forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles.
 2. The bendable nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of suction flow passages include: a first duct connected to the auxiliary nozzles; a second duct connected to the corner nozzle; and a cavity where the first and second ducts meet one another.
 3. The bendable nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of suction flow passages are defined by partition walls in such a manner as to meet one another at the cavity, and the first and second ducts and the cavity are sealed by an integrally formed sealing cover.
 4. The bendable nozzle according to claim 3, further comprising: a front suction duct member moving in cooperation with the forward and backward movements of the corner nozzle while guided in the second duct.
 5. The bendable nozzle according to claim 4, wherein the front suction duct member includes a locking projection formed at one end thereof and fitted into a locking slot provided in the corner nozzle, whereby the front suction duct moves along with the corner nozzle in cooperation with the forward and backward movement of the corner nozzle.
 6. The bendable nozzle according to claim 1, wherein each auxiliary nozzle comprises: an auxiliary nozzle base pivotably installed to the lower nozzle case; an auxiliary nozzle body connected to the auxiliary nozzle base and adapted to longitudinally extend; and an auxiliary nozzle cover connected to the auxiliary nozzle base and preventing the auxiliary nozzle body from longitudinally breaking away.
 7. The bendable nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary nozzle further comprises: a locking projection formed to project at one end of the auxiliary nozzle body; and a plurality of engaging indentations provided on the inner periphery of the auxiliary nozzle cover and each having a constant width and depth corresponding to the locking projection, whereby the auxiliary nozzle body is extended and retracted per the width of each engaging indentation when it is longitudinally extended and retracted.
 8. The bendable nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary nozzles are provided with elastic members at the hinge joints thereof, respectively, whereby the elastic members elastically return the auxiliary nozzles to their original positions.
 9. The bendable nozzle according to claim 6, wherein when the auxiliary blushes are aligned in a line, they are in communication with the suction flow passages and when pivoted, they are cut off from the suction flow passages.
 10. The bendable nozzle according to claim 7, wherein when the auxiliary nozzles are aligned in a line, they are in communication with the suction flow passages and when pivoted, they are cut off from the suction flow passages.
 11. The bendable nozzle according to claim 8, wherein when the auxiliary nozzles are aligned in a line, they are in communication with the suction flow passages and when pivoted, they are cut off from the suction flow passages.
 12. The bendable nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the corner nozzle comprises: a corner nozzle body with an angled end; a suction port formed on the bottom of the corner nozzle body; and guide slot, to which the auxiliary nozzles are connected.
 13. The bendable nozzle according to claim 12, wherein the auxiliary nozzles have link members each provided with a guide projection seated in the guide slot, the link members being positioned adjacent to the hinge axles, respectively.
 14. The bendable nozzle according to claim 12, wherein the guide slot is formed to receive both of the guide projections of the auxiliary nozzles and to have the circular constant corresponding to the pivot trace of the guide projections such that the corner nozzle will be projected when the included angle between the auxiliary nozzles becomes an acute angle as the auxiliary nozzles are pivoted.
 15. A bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner comprising: an upper nozzle case; a lower nozzle case provided with a plurality of suction flow passages; a flow passage forming member sealing the suction flow passages; an extendible auxiliary nozzles connected to the suction flow passages and hinged to opposite sides of the upper and lower nozzle cases; a corner nozzle moving forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles; and a connection tube pivotably connected between the flow passage forming member and the lower nozzle case and connecting the suction flow passages to the cleaner body side. 